Who’s That Man?: Obama Asked For ID At Gym

thehill.com ^ | June 27, 2008 | Kris Kitto

[Free ThinkerNY]

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) may have one of the best-known faces in the world, but that doesn’t mean he is recognized everywhere, even in Washington.

Washington Sports Club employee Takehia Wheeler was manning the front desk to scan members’ identification cards Friday morning when the presidential candidate walked in with his entourage. The gym opened a month ago in the Columbia Heights district.

“He came in and walked past me,” Wheeler told In The Know. “I was like, ‘Sir, you need to come back.’ ”

Wheeler said Obama looked familiar, but she didn’t recognize him. So she asked for his ID card.

“I said, ‘What’s your last name?’ He said ‘Obama,’ ” Wheeler explained. “I said, ‘So what’s your first name?”

Then she laughed because it was at that point that Wheeler realized who she was talking to. How did she make amends? By saying, “Sorry, Mr. Future President!”

She wasn’t alone in not recognizing Obama. Trainer Drew McNeil wasn’t sure either.

“I was training right next to him, and I was like, ‘That looks like Obama,’ ” he said.

Obama brought his security detail along. Gym staff said Obama stayed for 20 minutes.

They said he has a membership to the citywide gym network, with his home gym at the Gallery Place/Chinatown location.

[Free ThinkerNY]

[usmcobra]

Good thing he didn’t have to supply his birth certificate.

[Red Steel]

Wheeler said Obama looked familiar, but she didn’t recognize him. So she asked for his ID card.

She should have asked for his birth certificate. /sarc

[driftdiver]

He stayed for 20 mins? What did he need another cancer stick break?

This is such a trivial event that I’m waiting for the media to start announcing every time he goes #2.

[pnh102]

Good thing Cynthia McKinney doesn’t go to said gym.

[weegee]

Obama is a divine creature and does not poo. You think a man of his caliber’s s*** could possibly stink?

[fullchroma]

It's pretty arrogant of him to simply stroll past the front desk of a gym he doesn't often visit with the expectation to be recognized and bowed-to as he passes through without showing ID or membership information.

[fullchroma]

...she laughed because it was at that point that Wheeler realized who she was talking to. How did she make amends?

For exactly what did she need to make amends?

[Cicero]

Isn’t it an elementary rule of politeness to say “hello” at the front desk when you walk into a place, even if they might be expected to recognize you?

And if you see a new face there, might you not introduce yourself?

Good grief. This guy is an elite snob, much too full of himself to give the time of day to anyone who he thinks belongs to the servant class.

[Joann37]

Why does he need an “entourage” to go to a gym?

[raybbr]

Anyone else want to guess why the race card WASN’T played here?

[richardtavor]

Preemptive spin.. My story would have been arrogant ass strolls by security (Who does he think he is.)

[F15Eagle]

lol

[ozzymandus]

Did he show her his race card?

[driftdiver]

He was only there 20 mins. Heck why even show up unless it was for a staged media event, hmmmm.

[Kakaze]

He just sooooooo way like you and me...well only better.

[John123]

“Sorry, Mr. Future President!

No... sorry, LOSER!

[Free ThinkerNY]

I don’t know, but he doesn’t leave home without it.

[Free ThinkerNY]

[imintrouble]

Obama is confusing the Divine Rights of Kings with the electoral process.

He has let all this coverage go to his head. Not everyone knows who the heck he is nor do they care.

[FlingWingFlyer]

She didn't know who he was but makes "amends" by saying "Sorry, Mr. Future President?"

Wow! What a ditz.

[Bernard]

So did he ever persent his membership ID, or did the clerk at the front desk just wave him through? Too bad he couldn’t get some exercise jumping a turnstile.

[ckilmer]

this animated gif image goes back and forth between obama's birth certificate and a real birth certificate. note the missing seal, the blacked out certificate number and the differences along the edges of the seal. in order to show detail this is a high mg download.

this writer examines the writing in detail and shows why much of the writing on obama's birth certificate was photo shopped.

[mikrofon]

“He came in and walked past me,” [Takehia] Wheeler told In The Know. “I was like, ‘Sir, you need to come back.’ ”

She wasn’t alone in not recognizing Obama. Trainer Drew McNeil wasn’t sure either. “I was training right next to him, and I was like, ‘That looks like Obama,’ ” he said.

"Take a hike Takehia -- like, don't you know who I am?!"

[SERKIT]

For exactly what did she need to make amends?

Restitution.

[SERKIT]

The “laser” form shows interesting dates. In other words, it looks like the form was not even available until 2001, so this CAN’T be an original. Fake but accurate like W’s military records a’la Dan Rather?

[Joann37]

Wow. Even I can stay at the gym longer than 20 minutes (22, sometimes).

[festus]

He needs someone to lift the weights.

[AZLiberty]

“It’s good to be the king.” But you ain’t king yet, Obama!

[Joann37]

LOL!!!

[imintrouble]

God willing he won’t be king ever.